Costa Cruises to deploy Costa Serena to Asia for winter 2025/26

Costa Cruises has announced new deployment plans in Asia for the 2025/26 winter season, with Costa Serena scheduled to operate a 10-day itinerary visiting Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. The voyage is set to depart from Hong Kong on November 12th, 2025.

The programme will see the ship call first at Keelung, the port city that serves as a gateway to Taipei. From there, passengers will be able to explore Taiwan’s temples, night markets, and street food culture. In South Korea, stops include Jeju Island, where Seogwipo’s coastal waterfalls and markets form part of the itinerary, and Busan, a major port city that combines urban beaches with historic sites such as the Gamcheon cultural village and the Gukje Market.

Two ports in Japan round out the sailing. Yatsushiro, located on Kyushu, offers access to castle ruins, natural landscapes, and shrines, while Nagasaki presents a mix of historical landmarks and memorials including Peace Park and the Shimabara Peninsula.

The 2007-built Costa Serena is scheduled to undergo a refit at the end of October 2025 before returning to service for the new itineraries. According to Costa Cruises, the dry dock will update the ship’s design and public spaces, while maintaining its original theme inspired by classical mythology.

Following the 10-day launch programme, Costa Serena will remain in Asia throughout 2026 with two alternating 14-day itineraries. One itinerary will include Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, while the second will visit Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. These itineraries can also be combined into a 28-day sailing covering a wider range of Asian destinations.

Looking further ahead, Costa Serena is also set to play a central role in the company’s 2026 World Cruise. Beginning in October of that year, the vessel will embark on a global voyage across Asia, Oceania, and South America, including a range of long-haul ports and island destinations.

The deployment confirms Costa Cruises’ continued focus on Asia as a key market, with Serena joining other international lines that have increased their operations in the region. The decision to operate multiple itineraries from 2025 through to the World Cruise in late 2026 places the ship on an extended schedule covering both regional and global markets.